Does your favorite app make the list?

Android is now the most used mobile operating system in the world thanks to its different variations that allow it to run on different hardware from entry-level to the premium ones. One thing it managed to do is to make apps run consistently on any of these devices, allowing for a bigger adoption on any app or game that is released on the platform.

I’ve primarily been an iOS user, but I always keep my Pixel device handy for any Android-related tasks and slowly I feel the call of Google pushing towards it. With the advent of high-end hardware becoming widely available in the market that doesn’t burn a hole in your wallet, I think it’s time for me to shift platforms and see what the other side offers.

Here’s a list of some of my favorite Android apps:

Nova Launcher – Unarguably one of the best Android launchers available, Nova Launcher gives you a plethora of customization options to give your Android phone a total makeover. Change gestures, find the best icons, even change the way you see your apps. Other launchers are also available, but Nova Launcher is always on the top of my list.

Android Messages – Google’s stock app for receiving SMS and MMS is simple enough but is still filled with enough features to make the default app for my messages. It recently just got support for RCS that enables you to see when your friends are typing of if they have read your messages along with the ability to share videos and photos in high quality.

Google Fit – Google is ramping up its focus on health and fitness, and the Google Fit app is the one app that you should have installed on your Android device (it even supports iOS as well). It gives you an overview of all your fitness stats that includes Move Minutes and Heart Points. All of the data is curated from different sources including the smartwatches and fitness trackers you wear including the sensors found on your smartphone.

Google Drive – I’ve used a ton of cloud storage services over the years, but Google Drive was my favorite. It can sync files from my desktop and easily makes it accessible on any device. Plus, it conveniently connects to every Google service available, meaning that I can easily attach files from my Drive through my Gmail account.

Gboard – While third-party keyboards offer various ways on how to improve typing on your device, I’ve always found Gboard to be the best. You can choose from various themes and customize the keyboard in any way that you want. My favorite bit is that you can search emoji using keywords so you don’t have to keep scrolling looking for the right emoji. Google services are also integrated, so you can easily send web links or even YouTube videos straight from the keyboard.

Zedge – This app houses a large collection of wallpapers, ringtones and notification tones that can help you personalize your Android smartphone. The app can even apply the new ringtone straight from the app, unlike iOS where you have to manually place it through iTunes.

Docs, Sheets, and Slides – Google’s own collection of productivity apps easily lets you create documents, spreadsheets and presentations are great alternatives to Microsoft’s Office apps. They’re completely free, which makes them more ideal for some users who don’t want to pay for a subscription on Microsoft’s apps.

VLC Player – Probably one of the best media players on any platform, VLC Player is the one media player you should have. It literally plays everything and nearly every file format that I’ve come across. The best part is that you can even add files through a web browser without having to connect it to your computer.

LastPass – This is one of my favorite password managers for Android. It locks all your app passwords, profiles and other information inside a secure vault and you only have to remember one master password to unlock them all. It easily works with autofill features on your browser so information is readily available, and it can even generate passwords so you don’t do the hard thinking.

Authy – Authenticator apps are also plentiful, but Authy has risen to the top to be one of my favorites. You can add any app that uses two-factor authentication and even customize how it looks so it’s easy to identify. There’s also a Chrome web app so you don’t need your smartphone to enter authorization codes when logging in.

Did your favorite app make it to the list? Give it a shoutout in the comments below!

Tech Enthusiast and Movie Buff. Passionate for all things tech - you’ll normally find him tinkering with the latest gadgets and computer peripherals. He is an avid collector of Blu-ray discs and occasionally plays on his Xbox.